Six Ballina cops charged with assault and perjury

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: CCTV footage taken at Ballina police station on the night Corey Barker (pictured right) was allegedly attacked more than three years ago.Contributed

IT has been confirmed that six serving and former Richmond police officers have been charged with assault, perjury and other offences for allegedly lying to the police watchdog about the violent arrest of Corey Barker at Ballina more than three years ago.

All the men will face Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on July 17.

This followed a four-month commission investigation in which officers denied using excessive force on Mr Barker and claimed he punched an officer on the nose on the night of his arrest in January, 2011.

But the commission concluded: "...Barker did not assault Hill, so that the degree of force used against Barker could not be justified by any assault committed by Barker".

Mr Barker, aged 21, came to the aid of two friends who were having a domestic dispute that was attended by police in Tamar St, Ballina. He was arrested and taken to Ballina police station where the assault allegedly occurred.

Mr Barker was charged with assault and other offences, but Magistrate David Heilpern dismissed that and recommended the commission's involvement.

This came after he viewed CCTV footage from the police station and said he could not see Mr Barker punching officers.